When it Rains (Completed)

CHAPTER 25

We were almost late when we arrived at the church. I was about to walk in when Johen grabbed my arm. "Sabay na tayo."

When I sneaked into the inside, the number of guests was overwhelming. That startled me. "Andaming tao."

He then offered his arm, but I refused. "Ayaw kong pagchismis tayo ng mga bisita."

"Just walk straight. Andito naman ako, sabay tayong lalakad. Isa pa, guests rin naman tayo, hindi ka naman bride."

Well, at least, gumaan ang loob ko dahil sa kanya. We stood at the church door, and the red carpet greeted us in the nave. I heaved a sigh and started to take a step onto the carpet, and in that moment, I felt all of their eyes on me. I haven't seen most of them before.

There, I found myself looking for someone. In the front row, I found Tita Alice's family and the bride's family, but someone was missing. I'd reached my seat, but still, I didn't find him. He wasn't among the groom's men or among the guests either.

"Hey," Johen whispered. "Still nervous?"

"Nope, I'm fine. I'm fine."

Still, my words defied what I was really feeling. And now, the processional starts. At the door, the bride starts to walk down the nave, capturing everyone's attention. Kuya Alrey was happy to see her woman on the carpet, carrying a pretty bouquet under her veil.

Too bad for Ate Trisha. She doesn't know Kuya yet, but I have no intention of telling her everything. Natatakot lang ako para sa kanya na baka malaman niya ang totoo pero huli na ang lahat.

Alam kong madadawit ang pangalan ko pero kapag sinabi ko ang totoo, wala namang maniniwala sa akin.

Sampid lang ako sa pamilya nila.

I kept myself in posture, even though I kept spacing out and almost forgot the order of service until they'd exchanged vows and kissed. Everyone was happy, especially the two families of the couple. I feel happy for them, but something keeps me from being happy at the moment.

After the wedding, we proceeded to the reception held in a nearby hotel. I was in a table together with Tita Alice, Tito Renzo, and Ate Reina. Everyone was having fun, and all seemed entertained by the event. Nagpaalam naman ako na magbabanyo muna ako saglit.

Umalis ako sa table namin. Hindi naman talaga ako magbabanyo eh, gusto ko lang magpahangin sa labas saglit.

I was about to pass by a group of ladies standing near the stage who seemed excited. Naingayan pa ako sa bigla nilang sigaw. And to my surprise, there I found myself holding a bouquet that had been tossed from somewhere.

"So ayan, ang isusunod na ikakasal ay ang brother ng ating groom!" sabi ng event host at naghiyawan ang mga tao.

Hindi ko alam kung anong dapat kong gagawin sa oras na iyon. The crowd cheered and congratulated me in advance. The f*ck.

I couldn't take the attention on me anymore and so I walked out and went to the back of the guest seats. There I found Johen, who was already laughing. "Nice catch."

"Hindi ako ikakasal and that would never happen anytime soon."

"Well, I will wait for you," he said, as he took my hand and kissed it.

"Johen, stop playing around. Gulong-gulo pa ang isip ko sa ngayon. Just give me some space," sabi ko at binawi ko ang kamay mula sa kanya.

Binigay ko sa kanila ang bouquet at umalis pero nang makalayo ako ay may humatak naman bigla sa braso. Parang may halong galit pa ang kapit niya sa akin.

She dragged me until we reached the empty hall. Humarap siya at tsaka ko lang siya nakilala. I was about to speak when she landed her palm on my right cheek. "I warned you once. Don't wait for me to hit your face twice."

Napahawak na lang ako sa pisngi ko sa hapdi ng sampal niya.

"He is mine. Wag mo nang subukang agawin siya sa akin. Go to your Patrick."

"How did you know?"

"I am not Donnabelle Villamore for nothing. But, it's none of your business if I get some details about you, Toralba. I'm here to stop you from taking what's mine."

Hinarap ko siya sa kabila ng hapdi ng pisngi ko. "If you already knew some things about me, then you should've known in the first place—Johen is the one who approached me, not the other way around. Kung makasampal ka sa akin, parang inakit ko lahat ng lalaki sa mundo para walang matira sa'yo."

"I slapped you para magising ka sa katotohanang hindi mo kayang pagsabayin mahalin ang dalawang tao, Toralba. Mamili ka kung ayaw mong mapahamak—"

"Shut the f*ck up. Kung sa tingin mo madali lang 'to sa'yo, pwes sa 'kin hindi," my last words before I walked past her.

I was about to leave her when my phone got a text. I checked it and it was from an unknown number—texted me an address leading to the cemetery. "Go find him before it's too late," she said, and her footsteps faded as I still processed what she meant in the message.

My anxiety crept into my mind, which made me run out of the hotel and grab a taxi. The sky was already overcast, and a downpour was on its way, but I had to leave. Kaya, sinabi ko sa driver ang address at kaagad niya ako dinala roon.

The cemetery was minutes away from the hotel, and as I finally reached the place, I ran to the gates and went inside the quiet graveyard. I could already feel some drops of rain on my suit, but it didn't stop me from searching. I went downhill and passed by tombstones with candles and withering flowers.

I tried not to flinch, but my knees were already weak. As I soaked my body in the downpour, I could hear voices of the dead calling my name, echoing in my mind with sudden visions of vivid memories from the past. I yelled, but this time, his name was the only thing I spit out of my mouth.

My world was already shaking, but I kept calling his name.

"Patrick, I love you."

I was on the edge of my hope, like I was waiting for myself to jump off the cliff to die again, but a man drew near me. He stood in front of me. I looked up until his eyes met mine. He was holding his umbrella like he always does, but he just shoved it away from us and wrapped his arms around me.

It may have been stupid of him to let us soak in the rain, but somehow his embrace gave me the warmth I had been longing for since the day he left for no reason.